As I write this, Yelp reviews for the state park, the lodge, and the restaurant are all rolled into one, so for better or worse, some of the ratings for this 1500-acre forest are being brought down by a disappointing salad bar experience or two. But make no mistake here -- the state park and the hiking trails are really very good and very well-maintained. We did have a 2-night stay in a cottage that is at least 50 years old - maybe more - and we were very happy with its offering modern amenities (thermostat, full kitchen, wifi) in an old wooden cabin. Nearby Honeymoon Falls is a a loop trail that is every bit as good as anything we saw in Cumberland Gap National Park, and we also thought highly of the Chained Rock trail, silly as the chain story is. The lodge seems nice too, although we didn't stay there. The dining area is a little more utilitarian looking than I might hope for from a 100 year-old lodge, but the view from the big windows makes up for it. The food? Yeah, it's nothing special. But we've seen worse from similar places. If you're here for the food and not for the other stuff then yeah, rethink your life choices or do some soul-searching. read more

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Amazing views of the city if you drive up to the parking area for Chained Rock. Once you park there is a great view area on one hike and the chained rock on the other. There are several other hikes you can do. This is very easy going down but be ready for coming back up. Steep but go slow, watch your footing and take step by step! For sure bring a bottle water with you and do in the morning. It is very cool to do and it brings life to pineville. There is several spots to camp and chill as we saw on drive up the mountain!! Would totally recommend to anyone of multiple ages!! read more

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After waiting several months before we tried this again we were more disappointed than before. Salad bar was nasty. Food everywhere and most containers were empty. Waited on my food for nearly 40 minutes, NEVER received it! Finally as we were leaving the manager asked if I wanted it in a to go box. We just left. I won't ever be back, had enough read more

Very happy with my one night visit. Room was clean, quiet and had a terrific view. Furnishings were a tad unexpected. Not particularly lodge-ish. Perhaps a bit dated. Vanity is small. Staff was helpful and knowledgeable. Dining room server was attentive without being obsequious. The Hot Brown entree was authentic and served very hot, thank you. Nice to find fried green tomatoes on the menu. Salad was fresh and served a bit chilled. Will I return? Absolutely, yes. read more

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This park has lots of hiking trails, a lodge with a great dinning room with an expansive views of the mountain, award winning golf course and it is located near Cumberland Gap National Historic Park. The entrance to Pine Mountain is in Pineville which is a beautiful tiny town with a court house square that is right out of a movie set. Restaurants line the square including an art deco movie theater and the feel is very inviting. read more

I had the pleasure of visiting Pine Mountain Resort while visiting a friend that lived in Pineville. First stop was the pool. It was Labor Day and there was hardly anyone there which we loved! The pool was surrounded by tall mature trees which made for a very peaceful setting! We were on top of a huge mountain which was simply gorgeous. Later that evening we had dinner in the lodge restaurant. We each had the salad bar and shared the all-you-can-eat catfish. You must try the tuna salad and beans and cornbread on the salad bar as they were scrumptious! The catfish was served steaming hot and it was evident the fish was fresh. Although I added some pepper as it could have been a little more seasoned. I did not see any of the rooms but the inside of the lodge was clean and there was a nice bar with a few televisions. My friend said her and her husband come up to watch basketball and football games at the bar as it is usually a pretty quiet spot. Pine Mountain was Kentucky's first state park established in 1924. Stop by and see this beautiful piece of Kentucky's history. read more

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I hiked the short hike up to the chained rock. It's about a mile round-trip, and the chained rock itself is a pretty rewarding sight. There is also a second overlook that is close to the parking lot and offers a good view of Pineville. read more

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If you happen upon Pineville Ky undoubtably this is where you should stay. Our State Mountain Lodge has so many beautiful things to offer and so many memories to make. Food is top notch and the staff is hands down some of the best I've ever had the pleasure of meeting. Hiking trails, wildlife, clean rooms, excellent cabins, fabulous food and just all around a beautiful area to add to your vacation list. Remember a visit to chained rock and read the history!! Love my Lil town read more

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This is a beautiful park. Plenty of trails that are perfect for hiking along with your pets. They have plenty of lodging and some spectacular scenery. They have an adorable amphitheater with a pond. We had a lovely picnic there. It was so relaxing. Our pictures do not do the amphitheater justice. The park has a restaurant that has indoor and outdoor seating. The indoor seating has glass windows overlooking the mountains. We ate breakfast, lunch, dinner and even did take out once. They were all good meals. We played golf this visit. The Wasioto Winds Golf Course is awesome. It has a gift shop. We met some of the staff. They were incredibly knowledgeable and had the very best hospitality! We will be back many, many times! If you like the outdoors and golfing, I highly recommend. read more

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Stopped here overnight and was pleasantly surprised with the picturesque location of the hotel. The back views are amazing too. Onsite restaurant has great selection and everything tastes and looked great. Most importantly, all resort staff was very accommodating and nice. read more

Pine Mountain State Resort Park - Evans Lodge entrance. - Parks Near Me - Pineville, Kentucky

You must EXACTLY copy/paste this onto google maps: 36.736274,-83.737814 If you go to the Pine Mountain website and click the map, it will also show you those coordinates i have above. You cannot type in "Pine Mountain Resort Park Restaurant" on google maps because it will take you a different spot of the park. Anyways, this review is solely for the restaurant. We went on Sunday. So you could only do the $15 buffet and can't order from the menu. Which is a bummer if you don't like anything they put out on the buffet. I only tried the shrimp, corn, mac & cheese, and cat fish. The corn and mac & cheese is nothing to brad about. The shrimp was not that great. The cat fish was good. However, the first time I went up, the cat fish was cold. When they put more cat fish in, I got up again to get some more. I really just got about 2.5 plates of cat fish. My friend did not like the buffet or the desserts. [Keep in mind though, that I only tried half the options they put out. They have like 3-4 other meat options] Overall, when I walked in the buffet, I was underwhelmed. The presentation of the food was awful. I've seen $7 buffets in Middlesboro, KY with a way better set up. You walk in, and then there is one long table with just 7 pans of food and then a small dessert table in the corner. Also, for a $15 buffet you'd expect more options. I really really felt like walking out and going to pizza hut or taco bell instead because it just didn't look worth it here. My landlord whose been here 4 times warned me saying that their food has been inconsistent because the head chef changed like 4 times but the view if phenomenal. Speaking of the view, yes it is amazing! It must be even better during fall when the leaves are turning over. However, you don't have to eat at the restaurant for the view. There is a balcony downstairs where you can walk out to and take pictures or just relax if you wanted too. There is also a $3 mini golf course too. My point is, if you're coming for the view, you don't have to eat at the restaurant. I think I would give it one more shot to order off their menu next time. If that disappoints as well, I don't think I'll ever be back for the food. read more

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I ended up here on a fluke. The room price was on the high side for dated accomodations. On the plus side there was a balcony that overlooked trees on the backside. It would have been more enjoyable if there was a less noisy A/C system though. The lodge serves good food with a view and has good service. Tried to go for a walk on a trail behind the lodge. Immediately was accosted by the the hotel trash area. There was stinky liquid all over the parking lot. They should have hosed that down!! Then the trail looked over grown so I gave up. read more

Pine Mountain State Resort Park - Parks Near Me - Pineville, Kentucky

Attended a graduation party here food was perfect service was great! Will visit again! read more

The views are amazing. We stayed at the lodge. It was ho-hum. The towels are soft and the room is clean. I felt like I was sleeping on a diaper because they have a moisture barrier on the bed. The pillows are too thick for proper posture while sleeping but work well if you want to read in bed. The AC/heater works and again the views are spectacular. The floors were pretty clean but I did feel like they could have been cleaner under my feet. The walls are pretty thin too. It wasn't terrible but I don't know that I'd stay here again. read more

We stayed at the Pine Mountain Resort this past weekend. I didn't have very high expectations for this stay, but other options were slim. We book a room, which turned out to be a great choice. The room was clean and smelled great. The view from the balcony was incredible. After our stay we have decided we will be staying here again in the future when more time was available to enjoy it. The restaurant was ok at best. The pricing was reasonable, but the food was just average. The view from there was also beautiful. read more

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Dining room only review. We were excited to arrive at the top of the hill for a nice warm lunch while on our way to LaFollette TN. Once at the restaurant, there may have been 12 guests dining. The hostess told us we could sit anywhere so we chose a table by the window overlooking the mountains. All other tables by the window that weren't occupied were dirty. We chose one and the hostess seemed put out to have to bus the table for us. From there, the service was lacking. Seemed as though we were expecting a lot from the State employees. Menu selection was minimal - club sandwich, hamburger, chicken strip, hot brown menu choices. Not worth the gas up the hill. read more

Used to go there almost every Sunday when I was younger. My best friend and I went there for Galentine's Day but the food was not what it used to be. I loved the dessert bar, the chocolate fountain was to die for. However, the salad bar was not where it should be for the quality of the restaurant. We were given two options for food and my bestie and I chose the prime rib. Mine was slightly overcooked. Hers was cooked to the correct temperature. I won't stop going to the Lodge just because of one bad experience, but it would be nice if things were a little more, buffet and less 2 options to choose from. There are a lot of picky people. read more

Great State Park in beautiful SE Kentucky. Cabins are clean and efficient. Lodge dining was decent with a great view from the dining room. Liquor available. Excellent access to great motorcycle roads; probably the best riding location as far as the KY State Parks go. Easy access to town and grocery store / restaurants. Good cell service at the park and cabin had sat. TV. Pricing is unbelievably low for what you get. Reserve early as they are usually booked during peak times. Fall is especially popular. Highly recommended!! read more

Great views and clean, comfortable rooms. Staff is very accommodating and friendly. The chef at the restaurant definitely takes his job seriously and makes even the simplest dishes with love and attention to details. read more

Pine Mountain State Resort Park - Back view - Parks Near Me - Pineville, Kentucky

This is a beautiful place on the outside. The staff is nice enough but rather indifferent to any questions you have. The restaurant is very cold and not very pretty compared to the rest of the place. The food was not very good and always cold when it was served. The rooms were pleasant to look at but very small. The bds were so hard I would have been more comfortable sleeping on the floor. read more

My husband and I stopped by to check it out about a month ago and decided we needed to return for a visit. And we are glad we did. We came mid-week. Right when most schools had started the new school year. We opted to stay at the lodge. Very clean. Beautiful views. Staff was very friendly and helpful. The pool is perfect for small children. The deepest is only 4 ft. We played a few rounds of miniature golf. Walked around the campus. We had dinner twice and breakfast once. The catfish was enough for two. Or even three. And it was crispy hot delicious. The mushroom panini was spot on. The soup was not hot. Not even very warm and the salad bar was only so-so. The chicken quesadilla was very good and packed full of chicken. Now breakfast..... the veggie omelette was excellent. It was served with hashbrowns that were neither fried nor a casserole. They were ok. The frozen "homemade " biscuits were just that. But good. All in all it was a VERY pleasant two days. We shall return. read more

Great place to hike with your family and friends, or to go take seasonal pictures. It's absolutely gorgeous up there.

We decided to check out a park in Kentucky since it was different than the typical busy large park. We went and it was very quiet. Not many people on the roads. The park has a small Bible College along with a resort and golf course. The first thing that struck me going in was the sign which reads, "Rated by X Golfing Company.." It was rated, but typically you say what you are rated, such as 10th. This just says rated. We drove around and the map online was done very well. Easy to follow, but we passed up the trail we wanted. There is not much parking at any one of these trails. The one we chose had a little turn off big enough for us and the van that was already there. We chose the trail because it had a waterfall at the end of it. It was more like a trickle; which we were warned, but still dissappointed. The trail information did not mention anything about the skill of the trail. I would say it was moderate. The trail was steep in some areas and often no wider than my two feet. That wasn't a problem until it got to the edge. Some of the trail was high up and on the edge as well as slippery. The tree roots helped our footing. The good thing is no one else was on the trail when we were so we didn't have to move over for anyone. Another area was Lookout point. It was high up and looked out over a couple little towns. Very pretty views at this and other overlooks. I may like to come back and see what I didn't get to the first time. The biggest advantage was the quietness due to only a few people around wherever we went. read more

I've been on a motorcycle tour in Kentucky and have lodged and dined at three ky state parks..Dale hollow, Cumberland falls and lastly pine mountain. This review is strictly for the restaurant. The cooks are apparently as disengaged as the servers. Food was mediocre at best and the server acted if I was just interrupting her life. This entire food service operation is in need of a competitive bidding process to engage a quality food service vendor read more

In my opinion this is the best place to eat if you love catfish. The service is great and the prices are reasonable. Besides the great catfish, nothing beats the scenic view of the mountains. Not only is the food great and the scenery breathtaking, the atmosphere is relaxing. Nothing makes for a great nights sleep as a full stomach of catfish and a really good glass of wine . read more

I'm rating just the restaurant. We went here for Mothers Day. The buffet was cold! The chicken and dumplings was brought fresh out of the fridge apparently. The only thing warm that we ate was the dinner rolls brought to the table. There was not anything to heat the platters which I would assume is against health code violations. This buffet was $20 and a complete waste. We have gone here for holidays in the past and this will be our last visit there. read more

I went yesterday and enjoyed a great burger. I loved the experience and drive. Our waitress was on the spot with our food.

This was our first visit and we were so happy with our stay. The staff were all very friendly our room was clean and comfortable, the cable was out but they gave us a discount because of that. When we walked into our room we noticed a door to a balcony with such a beautiful view, at night the lighting bugs were lighting up and it was just magical. The restaurant was surprisingly good after reading the reviews we were a little nervous but it was really good. The rolls were soft and warm with homemade honey butter, the salad was fresh and crisp, the tomatoes were especially good, the ribeye was very generous and had a nice grilled flavor, the baked potato was delish as well. They had fresh brewed iced tea and to go cups. We were both happy with our visit and would definitely recommend it to others and will return when we are in the area. read more

we took our church group from N K Y Saturday to see the the Book of Jobe... we were completely satisfiyed the food was wonderful.. the Play could have not been better , the costumes was breathtaking. right down to their makeup.we were served a scrumptious meal. a play and a meal for $15.00. we will be back next year . I hope to bring a tour bus full. thank you Jean Griffin with Mission Church Of God Florence Ky Seniors group read more

No lights on walkways, icy parking lot and walkways, no luggage carts, no wi-fi. The room was dirty when we checked in and had an odd smell. Overheard the guest service rep tell a patron there was no maintenance person on duty. Will NOT return here! read more

This is my 2nd visit to Pine Mountain State Resort Park. I love this place. The hospitality is 2nd to none. From the front desk staff to the Park Naturalist, everyone is very kind and helpful. My room was very clean. The mattresses in room 257 seem to be new and very comfortable. The views from the balconies are breath taking! The only issue with my room, it looks like a water leak occurred on the outside wall, and the paint has bubbled and needs repair. I have used the WiFi on property and the speed seems to be good. NOTE I was here for a sold out weekend, and WiFi was zipping right along. I have eaten at the Lodge Restaurant multiple times. The quality seems to be hit and miss in quality. My dinner was really tasty (crispy fresh fried chicken), however breakfast had a bit to be desired (Very sad and soggy hash browns, semi toasted English muffin). My breakfast should have been really good because I was the only person in the restaurant at 6:45 am! The food in general is good (not great). It's really a shame, that in today's world of foodies, cooking shows and lots of unemployed culinary school graduates, the food is hit and miss! However my service has always been excellent in at Mountain View Restaurant! The inconsistency of the food is what prevents a 5 star review. The hiking is amazing. I come here to get away from the hustle and bustle of living in a large metropolitan area. It is peaceful, calm, and the pace is slower. If you are looking for some peace and solitude, this is where you want to visit. I will be back!!! read more

My boyfriend and I stayed three nights in a one-bedroom cabin with a wood-burning fireplace. It was 4 rooms: living room, kitchen, bathroom and bedroom. It included a small flat-screen tv with cable, a full bed, loveseat with pullout bed, hair dryer, two outdoor chairs and picnic table. Kitchen included: electric stove and oven, full-sized fridge, microwave, small coffee pot, toaster, basic dishes, flatware and cookware, table and 4 chairs. The cabin was clean and quiet. The bed was too soft: my boyfriend did not sleep well, and I felt like I was falling into a hole in the middle of the bed created by our weight. In sharp contrast, the loveseat was hard. When we arrived, there was a bucket full of ashes left outside by the previous guests. In our three-day stay, it was never emptied, making it problematic for us to clean the fireplace after our use. The maid showed up one day but not the other. Firewood was provided at no extra charge; there was a small pile upon our arrival, but after that we had to call for it, they don't bring it by otherwise. We enjoyed many of the trails and were pleased with the solitude, with the exception of a random gunshot heard at dusk and a group of guys with a drone taking photos/video. I wish we had been more fortunate with the weather: the morning fog had an interesting and otherworldly quality, but the persistent damp, overcast days were a bit of a bummer. The sun shined on my last hours there, and it was a completely different place. read more

So before I begin my tirade I just want to say how beautiful pine mountain is. All of it. The scenery, the lodging, the outlooks, the atriums, the cove, the shelter. It was a spectacular place and perfect for our little wedding. However that being said I will likely never stay at the resort again. I'll do some research and find a local bed and breakfast or see if the staff at Cumberland Gap down the street have a better clue about customer service. Every experience we had at the restaurant was so disappointing. The food was cold and sub par. The waiting staff was just awful. We gave them three chances, the third being after the park manager was gracious enough to pay for half of our meals. We even talked to the restaurant manager who took our phone numbers and emails and said he would try to make it up to us by providing a meal when we came back for our wedding and send us an email of the speciality items the cater for their special events. Not that he actually followed through. The veiw from the restaurant is amazing. Go and sit out on the patio next to the check in desk with some coffee... Just don't bother going to the restaurant if you have any sort of expectations for good service or decent food. Proceeding that we blocked out rooms and went on our merry way to figure out the details before setting the reservations in stone. If I didn't get Valerie on the other end it was always a waste of time. You would think they would have more then one competent person working the front desk. Multiple times the person would say, you know I don't know.... You know Valerie would know, let me leave her a message, or call back when Valerie is here. And you would just hope they actually left her one so she knew you called in the first place. My mother, being the first to arrive for our wedding weekend, went to check in and three of our reservations were wrong. They couldn't do anything about it. She asked to talk to the park manager. She went up to Rita's office where she said there was nothing they could do because that was how the reservations were made initially. Not that she would give my mother the respect of looking at her. She had her nose in her computer and fiddling with the mouse so my mom walked out of the office. When I arrived and heard the story we went back to the office where Valerie had just arrived to work. We explained what happened and she went through and saw that who ever had made the original reservations had not given me the cabins I had asked for and the reason we couldn't get into the ones I thought I had reserved was because there were in-house reservations. In house being family or friends of people working at the park. Something the park manager did not tell us or try to move around. So sweet, calm, wonderful Valerie then moved our reservations back to where they should have been from the start and then let us pick out the cottage with the widest kitchen avaliable because we were cooking all of our own food for the wedding. Everything from that point on was fine except when we went to use the stove and half the burners wouldn't work. They were sending a maintenance worker in the morning... But by then my husband had fixed it already. I would recommend spending a day exploring the beautiful resort. Even renting out one of the shelters or Laurel Cove. But don't waste your time on the catering or resturaunt if you expect anything. And the lodging is nice but you might have to reiterate 5 times what your trying to reserve and hopefully its right when uou get there. I never usually write bad reviews but this place was disappointment after disappointment. Go Valierie though! And whoever worked the front desk when we checked out. The only two people who can answer a quesion. read more